Frank Nazar will open the season in the middle of Chicago’s top line, carrying a larger load while captain Connor Bedard recovers from left shoulder surgery. The Blackhawks know the road back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs is steep, but Nazar sees a young, fast club with enough edge to make a push.
Key takeaways
- Nazar is projected to center Roman Kantserov and Patrick Kane when Chicago visits the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
- Bedard is expected to miss at least the opening month after being injured in a July 2 offseason workout in Vancouver.
- Nazar posted 15 goals and 26 assists in 66 games during the 2025-26 season.
- Kane believes Nazar’s speed and right-shot skill set resemble those of former Blackhawks forward Nick Schmaltz.
- Chicago added defenseman Bowen Byram in June, and he scored all three goals in a preseason overtime win against Minnesota.
Nazar takes the first-line assignment
The Blackhawks have missed the postseason for six straight seasons, and Bedard’s absence removes their most important offensive driver before the opening faceoff. The 21-year-old No. 1 pick from the 2023 NHL Draft has resumed skating and shooting following surgery, though his return is not anticipated before November.
That puts Nazar, 22, in a prime offensive spot against Vegas. Chicago selected him 13th overall in the 2022 draft, and he enters the first year of the seven-year, $46.13 million contract he signed Aug. 21, 2025. The deal carries a $6.59 million average annual value.
Nazar said the club’s youth should not be treated solely as a hurdle. He expects the group to gain maturity as the season moves along while using its legs and pace to pressure opponents. “We’re a young team, but that can work in our favor,” Nazar said. “We should have energy, speed and a style that gets in people’s faces.”
He also made clear he is prepared to fill whatever role Chicago requires while Bedard is out. Nazar pointed to the continuity among the organization’s younger players and said the group has continued to progress together. “If they ask me to take on more, I’ll do everything I can to handle it,” he said. “Whatever helps us win.”
Kane chemistry and a deeper Chicago roster
Playing beside Kane gives Nazar a familiar kind of security on the ice. Nazar said the winger’s ability to draw attention creates room for linemates, while the two are learning details such as passing lanes, puck placement and the next option after a play develops.
Kane, 37, is back in Chicago after helping the franchise win Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Over his career, he has played alongside established centers including Jonathan Toews, Dylan Strome, Brad Richards, Andrew Copp and J.T. Compher. Still, Kane said Nazar brings back memories of Schmaltz, who played for the Blackhawks from 2016 through 2019.
“He can generate speed through the middle, and he has a lot of ability as a right shot,” Kane said. “They are both strong skaters. The big thing for us is getting repetitions together, talking through situations and building that connection. Some plays click immediately, and some take more time.”
Coach Jeff Blashill has seen a stronger Nazar during camp, particularly when the puck is contested. Blashill said Nazar has improved at holding possession in battles and has been more disciplined with the puck instead of forcing low-percentage plays.
Chicago’s offseason work was not limited to its forward group. The Blackhawks acquired Byram from the Buffalo Sabres on June 23, adding another significant piece to the blue line. Byram made an immediate preseason impression Monday, scoring a hat trick, including the overtime winner, in a 4-3 victory against the Minnesota Wild.
Forwards Anton Frondell and Kantserov are also expected to be part of the young wave. With Bedard sidelined, the early test starts in Vegas: whether Nazar’s line can provide enough offense and possession work to keep Chicago moving forward until its captain returns.
